September 9, 2026 | 04:23 pm
Muslim survivors of a flash flood perform the congregational Asr prayer as part of the *Sumbayang 40* tradition at the Nurul Ikhlas prayer hall in Jorong Duo Koto, Tanah Datar, West Sumatra, on February 20, 2026. Antara/Wahdi Septiawan
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government, through the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), has allocated Rp703.01 billion (about US$42 million) in financial assistance to accelerate the rehabilitation and reconstruction of homes damaged by floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra.BNPB Chief Suharyanto said in Jakarta on Wednesday that the assistance is primarily aimed at repairing moderately and lightly damaged homes as the government seeks to accelerate post-disaster recovery across Sumatra."Transfers of the financial assistance in the three provinces have reached Rp703.01 billion, with Rp621.21 billion allocated to Aceh, Rp62.03 billion to North Sumatra and Rp19.77 billion to West Sumatra," Suharyanto said.He said residents had independently spent Rp505.61 billion of the assistance on home repairs, with significant physical progress reported in Pidie Jaya, East Aceh, Bireuen, Binjai, Lima Puluh Kota, West Pasaman and Agam.Government Speeds Up Permanent Housing ConstructionIn addition to assistance for damaged homes, the government is prioritizing the construction of permanent housing for residents whose homes were completely destroyed or who lost their permanent residences.Of the 27,809 permanent housing units proposed, 14,897 have completed the assessment process and are ready for construction. Construction has begun on 1,055 units, including 841 units that have been completed and 214 that are still under construction.Suharyanto said the BNPB was urging local governments to accelerate administrative verification so that the remaining assistance funds in residents' accounts could be fully disbursed.The BNPB is working with the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of Housing and Residential Areas, and local governments to accelerate rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.The agency said it remained optimistic that the recovery program would meet its targets, in line with President Prabowo Subianto's directive to strengthen disaster mitigation and preparedness on a sustained basis.
